64. You do not understand this notion of civilian control of the military? It is not a difficult notion,

nor is it controversial, except perhaps in some extremist circles. The notion is simply this: ultimate government decisions rest with elected civilians, not with military personnel, whatever rank they hold and whether they be four star generals or colonels or privates. Both domestic and foreign policy are determined by civilians, not by military personnel

Mr Manning is, of course, entitled to his views. In particular, he is entitled to believe that US diplomatic correspondence ought not be secret. But members of the military, including Mr Manning, are not authorized to make decisions overriding the laws of the civilian government. Whether or not Mr Manning thinks diplomacy would better be conducted, if everyone everywhere could read all diplomatic cables, as a member of the military with access to classified documents, Mr Manning is not entitled to release hundreds of thousands of diplomatic cables to the world: the decision, about how diplomatic cables are handled rests with the civilian government, and is to be determined by the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the civilian government, not by soldiers of any rank